Welcome back grade 7 science students, parents and guardians!!!

New England summers have always held rich experiences for me as I spend time with family and friends, explore new opportunities and rejuvenate; a time where special memories are created. It’s with the same optimism and eagerness that I look toward a new school year! My summer was fully occupied by attending classes and traveling and I will incorporate new things into the science curriculum because of these experiences.

 As a student at Northeastern University I learned many things aside from the science content from which I have been immersed in this past year. Being a student is very humbling. There are academic and dynamic challenges that sometimes feel insurmountable. These experiences have given me a renewed sensitivity for my students as learners. My goal is to always keep the lines of communication open from teacher to student to parent in order to foster a successful classroom experience.

On the upside, I found I really appreciated how my instructors utilized different modalities to reach a variety of learners such as kinesthetic, visual, auditory, read-write activities, etc. something I strive for in the science classroom. It is important that students be part of the learning process and we will utilize many techniques to help them accomplish this including a variety of hands on activities, team problem solving and lab activities, group presentations, cross-curricular activities and research skills.

Having worked hard this past year my husband rewarded me with a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana where we spent a few days before boarding a cruise ship headed for the Western Caribbean. I was excited to experience the culture and cuisine of New Orleans and was pleasantly surprised.

Being a science teacher with a particular passion for the ocean and environmental science this trip was perfect as I got to experience different ecosystems. I was thrilled that our ship traveled 122 km (76 mi) along the Mississippi River. This past school year my students and I took a virtual tour along this same stretch to the Gulf of Mexico to explore man’s impact on coastal waterways and wetlands, a part of our science curriculum.

Our first port was the beautiful beaches of Costa Maya, Mexico. There is nothing to compare to the brilliant blue waters of the Caribbean. My experience here was a little more than I bargained for though. I witnessed a disheartening disparity of incomes as weathered shacks lined the coast were juxtaposed with near mansions on the cliffs. Children under ten and older adults pushed their wares up and down the beach during nearly 38° C (100° F) temperatures for the length of the day. I frequently interject a global perspective into the science classroom when we discuss issues such as world population, limited resources, etc. and this visit brings new perspective to the discussion.

Our next stop was Roatán Bay Island, Honduras where we “danced with the dolphins”. Look for proof of this when you visit the classroom! Actually we were able with the help of a trainer to interact with the dolphins including a crazy kiss and hitching a ride on his back! I learned something amazing about the dolphin’s brain. Their brain is much like ours in terms of size, texture and that they have two lobes. The main difference is that the lobes of their brain have two different blood supplies and operate independent of each other. This allows the dolphin to rest/sleep with one lobe, while staying alert and operating basic body functions with the other lobe and switching off as needed. I wish we had that capacity then we could experience so much more!

Our next destination was the one I looked forward to most, Belize City, Belize. Belize is renowned as one of the world’s premier diving sites. We had scheduled a few deep water scuba dives at almost 30 m (approximately 100’) depth. Here we saw the most amazing display of corals, a lone sea turtle, a number of barracudas and a beautiful variety of fish and sea life. This is one of our favorite places to be, below the sea.

Our final destination was Cozumel, Mexico where we spent the day on a private beach snorkeling and jet skiing. Again the brilliant blue, warm water and underwater life was stunning!

I am grateful for the chock full and fun summer I had and look forward to sharing the things I learned with my students. Many of our activities this year in chemistry, physical and environmental science will be linked to a common theme, the ocean. I am eager to have your children share their experiences as well connecting as much as we can to the world of science and incorporating a global perspective.